Jo-Ann Saddleback is an artist, poet, writer, designer, producer, policy advocate, and Knowledge Keeper who is invited to communities and organizations to share Culture and history.

FOR SOULPEPPER: Takwahiminana (Debut)

THEATRE: Playwright with the Pemmican Collective

FILM: Jo-Ann started her career as a television/film producer, script writer and host for Alberta Native Communications Society, ITV, CTV and Access Alberta, and as Associate Producer with the National Film Board.

OTHER: Jo-Ann carries on her late father Stan Daniels’ legacy advocating for governmental change to the Native Child Welfare Act, giving Indigenous peoples a say in the future of their own children. She has worked as a Policy Analyst/Researcher for the Violence Against Aboriginal Women report, as Executive Director for Métis Settlements General Council, and spent 25 years travelling across North America delivering workshops on Culture, Health, Indigenous research processes, Roles and Rights of First Nations Women, and cross-cultural workshops for RCMP, Corrections Canada, Alberta Justice judges and crown prosecutors, and Alberta healthcare workers. She sat as Kôhkom for Alberta Justice/Aboriginal Sexual Assault Committee and co-authored its final Report, sits as Lead Elder for Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Misuse (CRISM - University of Alberta) and Co-Primary Investigator/co-author for Project PASPINAM.  She is Elder Cultural Advisor for the City of Edmonton, Dreamspeakers and City of Edmonton Matriarch Circle, and was Cultural Advisor to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission.

With her husband Jerry Saddleback, Jo-Ann owned Câhcacêp Art and Tea House, now Câhcacêp BowsArt. Jo-Ann has been advisor to Indigenous artists like Dave Garneau, Dawn Marie Marchand, Lana Whiskeyjack, and Ociciwan Indigenous art collective. She is currently the Elder-in-Residence for the Edmonton Public Library, helping to support and establish Indigenous writers, artists, filmmakers and Knowledge Keepers.